Bill Text: CA AB1069 | 2017-2018 | Regular Session | Amended
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Local government: taxicab transportation services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-10-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 753, Statutes of 2017. [AB1069 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB1069-Amended.html
Bill Title: Local government: taxicab transportation services.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Passed) 2017-10-13 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 753, Statutes of 2017. [AB1069 Detail]
Download: California-2017-AB1069-Amended.html
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Amended
IN
Assembly
May 26, 2017 |
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Amended
IN
Assembly
April 18, 2017 |
CALIFORNIA LEGISLATURE—
2017–2018 REGULAR SESSION
| Assembly Bill | No. 1069 |
| Introduced by Assembly Member Low |
February 16, 2017 |
An act to amend Section 53075.5 of the Government Code, relating to local government.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 1069, as amended, Low.
Local government: taxicab transportation services.
Existing law requires every city or county to adopt an ordinance or resolution in regard to taxicab transportation service and requires each city or county to provide for a policy for entry into the business of providing taxicab transportation service, the establishment or registration of rates for the provision of taxicab transportation service, and a mandatory controlled substance and alcohol testing certification program for drivers, as specified. Existing law also authorizes a city or county to levy a charge on a taxicab transportation service that is sufficient to pay for the costs of carrying out the ordinance or resolution adopted by the city or county in regards to taxicab transportation services.
This bill would repeal the above requirements and authorization for a city and instead apply those provisions only to
a county. The bill would authorize a county to enter into an agreement with the most populated city that regulates taxicabs, as specified, taxicabs within the county’s jurisdiction jurisdiction, or a regional entity established to regulate taxicab transportation services, to perform the responsibilities of the county on the county’s behalf. behalf, and would provide that a regional entity so designated would have until
June 1, 2018, to comply with the provisions of the bill. The bill would require a county to provide, in its policy for entry into the business of providing taxicab transportation service, that the taxicab driver pass a criminal background check using a live scan fingerprint provider with monitoring. The bill would also repeal the requirement that a county, when regulating a taxicab company, provide for the establishment of rates for the provision of taxicab company, and would, instead, prohibit a county from limiting or prohibiting a licensed taxicab transportation service from setting fares or charging a flat rate. rate, except that a county would be permitted to establish a maximum rate. The bill also would require that a county ensure that any charge imposed on a taxicab transportation
service does not exceed the reasonable regulatory costs of administering and enforcing the program.
program, and would authorize the City and County of San Francisco to impose a charge that is sufficient to pay for the costs of carrying out an ordinance or resolution adopted in regard to taxicab transportation services. The bill would authorize a city or county to adopt an ordinance, resolution, or charter provision an entity that operates an airport to regulate the access to airports by taxicabs. taxicabs and to set access fees at the airport. The bill would authorize a licensed taxicab company to use any device or technology approved by the state
approved by the Division of Measurement Standards to calculate fares. The bill would require a licensed taxicab company to disclose fares, fees, or rates to a potential customer before the customer accepts the ride, and to post rates for walkup rides and street hails. The bill would require authorize a city to limit the number of taxicab companies or vehicles that use specified areas within the city’s jurisdiction. The bill would prohibit a city or county from limiting or prohibiting prearranged trips by a licensed taxicab company.
The bill would require a city or
county to issue an inspection sticker to a taxicab that complies with specified requirements, and to issue a photo permit to a taxi driver that complies with specified requirements. The bill would authorize a county to accept a taxi permit issued by another county as valid, and to issue that taxicab an inspection sticker or photo permit to operate within that county. The bill would define the terms “licensed taxicab company” and “licensed taxicab driver” for these purposes. The bill would make it unlawful to operate a taxicab without a valid certificate, license, or permit and would make a violation of the requirement to obtain a license punishable by a fine. By imposing new duties on local governments, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement.
This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.
Digest Key
Vote: MAJORITY Appropriation: NO Fiscal Committee: YES Local Program: YESBill Text
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
SECTION 1.
Section 53075.5 of the Government Code is amended to read:53075.5.
(a) (1) Notwithstanding Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 5351) of Division 2 of the Public Utilities Code, every county shall protect the public health, safety, and welfare by adopting an ordinance or resolution in regard to taxicab transportation service rendered in vehicles designed for carrying not more than eight persons, excluding the driver, that is operated within the jurisdiction of the county.(2) A county may perform the responsibilities required by this section by entering into an agreement with the most populated city within its jurisdiction that regulates taxicab transportation service
service, or a regional entity established to regulate taxicab transportation services, to perform these responsibilities on the county’s behalf.
(b) Each county shall provide for, but is not limited to providing for, the following:
(1) A policy for entry into the business of providing taxicab transportation service. The policy shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following
provisions:
(A) Employment, or an offer of employment, as a taxicab driver in the jurisdiction, including compliance with all of the requirements of the program adopted pursuant to paragraph (2) and passage of a fingerprint criminal background check using a live scan fingerprint provider with monitoring, shall be a condition of issuance of a driver’s permit.
(B) The driver’s permit shall become void upon termination of employment.
(C) The driver’s permit shall state the name of the employer.
(D) The employer shall notify the county upon termination of employment.
(E) The driver shall return the permit to the county upon termination of employment.
(2) (A) A mandatory controlled substance and alcohol testing certification program. The program shall include, but need not be limited to, all of the following requirements:
(i) Drivers shall test negative for each of the controlled substances specified in Part 40 (commencing with Section 40.1) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, before employment. Drivers shall test negative for these controlled substances and for alcohol as a condition of permit renewal or, if no periodic permit renewals are required, at such other times as the county shall designate. As used in this section, a negative test for alcohol means an alcohol screening test showing a breath alcohol concentration of less than 0.02 percent.
(ii) Procedures shall be substantially as in Part 40 (commencing with Section 40.1) of
Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, except that the driver shall show a valid California driver’s license at the time and place of testing, and except as provided otherwise in this section. Requirements for rehabilitation and for return-to-duty and followup testing and other requirements, except as provided otherwise in this section, shall be substantially as in Part 382 (commencing with Section 382.101) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations.
(iii) A test in one jurisdiction shall be accepted as meeting the same requirement in any other jurisdiction. Any negative test result shall be accepted for one year as meeting a requirement for periodic permit renewal testing or any other periodic testing in that jurisdiction or any other jurisdiction, if the driver has not tested positive subsequent to a negative result. However, an earlier negative result shall not be accepted as meeting the pre-employment testing requirement for any
subsequent employment, or any testing requirements under the program other than periodic testing.
(iv) In the case of a self-employed independent driver, the test results shall be reported directly to the county, and the county shall notify the taxicab leasing company of record, if any, of positive results. In all other cases, the results shall be reported directly to the employing transportation operator, who may be required to notify the county of positive results.
(v) All test results are confidential and shall not be released without the consent of the driver, except as authorized or required by law.
(vi) Self-employed independent drivers shall be responsible for compliance with, and shall pay all costs of, this program with regard to themselves. Employing transportation operators shall be responsible for
compliance with, and shall pay all costs of, this program with respect to their employees and potential employees, except that an operator may require employees who test positive to pay the costs of rehabilitation and of return-to-duty and followup testing.
(vii) Upon the request of a driver applying for a permit, the county shall give the driver a list of the consortia certified pursuant to Part 382 (commencing with Section 382.101) of Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations that the county knows offer tests in or near the jurisdiction.
(B) No evidence derived from a positive test result pursuant to the program shall be admissible in a criminal prosecution concerning unlawful possession, sale or distribution of controlled substances.
(c) (1) A county may levy service charges, fees, or assessments only in an amount sufficient to pay for the costs of carrying out an ordinance or resolution adopted in regard to taxicab transportation services pursuant to this section. A county shall ensure that any charge, fee, or assessment imposed under this subdivision does not exceed the reasonable regulatory cost required to administer and enforce the program established by the county.
(2) The city and county of San Francisco shall be exempt from paragraph (1). The city and county of San Francisco may levy service charges, fees, or assessments in an amount sufficient to pay for the costs of carrying out an ordinance or resolution adopted in regard to taxicab transportation services pursuant to this section.
(d) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a city or county may adopt an ordinance, resolution, or charter provision to regulate the access to airports by taxicabs.
the entity that operates an airport may adopt an ordinance, resolution, charter provision, or undertake administrative actions to regulate access to the airport by taxicabs. The airport operator shall have ultimate authority to regulate access to the airport and set access fees at the airport.
(e) A county shall not limit or prohibit a licensed taxicab company from setting fares or charging a flat rate. However, a county may set a maximum rate.
(f) A licensed taxicab company may use any type of device or technology
approved by the Division of Measurement Standards to calculate fares, including the use of global positioning system metering.
(g) A licensed taxicab company shall disclose fares, fees, or rates to the customer before the customer accepts the ride so that the customer can make an informed decision. A licensed taxicab company may satisfy this requirement by disclosing fares, fees, or rates on its Internet Web site or site, cellular telephone application.
application, or phone orders upon request by the consumer.
(h) A licensed taxicab company shall post rates for walkup rides and street hails in the vehicle.
(i) A city may limit the number of taxicab companies or vehicles that may use taxi stand areas, pick up passengers at airports, or pick up street hails in that city’s jurisdiction.
(j) A city or county shall not limit or prohibit a prearranged trip by a licensed taxicab company. For purposes of this subdivision, “prearranged trips” means trips originated through a dispatch, an Internet Web site, or an
online-enabled application.
(i)
(k) (1) A county shall issue to a taxicab that complies with all provisions of this section, and with all applicable local ordinances or resolutions of that county, an inspection sticker. A county shall issue to a taxi driver that complies with all provisions of this section, and with all applicable local ordinances or resolutions of that county, a photo permit, and that driver is required to display that photo permit in a place visible to a passenger. A taxicab, or taxi driver, issued
an inspection sticker or photo permit under this subdivision may operate countywide.
(2) A county may accept a taxi certificate, license, or permit issued by another county as valid, and thereby may issue to that taxicab an inspection sticker or photo permit that authorizes that taxicab to operate within the county.
(j)
(l) For purposes of this section, “employment” includes self-employment as an independent driver.
(k)
(m) For purposes of this section, the term “licensed taxicab driver” or “licensed taxicab company” means a taxicab driver or taxicab company that is licensed to operate in a county and has complied with all provisions of this section, and with all applicable local ordinances or resolutions, and has been issued an inspection sticker or photo permit pursuant to subdivision (i). (k).
(l)
(n) (1) It shall be unlawful to operate a taxicab without a valid certificate, license, or permit.
(2) The minimum fine for violation of paragraph (1) of this section subdivision shall be five thousand dollars ($5,000) and shall be payable to the entity responsible for issuing a certificate, license, or permit in the jurisdiction where the violation occurred.
